Lubricating means



Aug. 11, 1936. R. J. GRAY LUBRICATING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1932 INVENTOR. RUSSELL J GRAY BY Wfif Aug. 11, 1936. R. J. GRAY LUBRICATING MEANS Filed Aug. 4, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. RUSSELL LIGRAY {4/ in"; ORN

Aug.l1, 1936. R. J. GRAY LUBRICATING MEANS Filed Aug. 4, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR RUSSELL J GRAY I W l/ lrlllfllfllllum ATO Y' Aug. 11, 1936. J GRAY LUBRICATING MEANS Filed Aug. 4, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR RUSSELL J GRAX Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

My present application is a continuation, in part, of my earlier filed application Serial No. 538,803, filed May 20th, 1931.

My present invention relates to lubricating means, particularly adapted for service stations where a large volume of lubrication must be handled, and it relates more particularly to high pressure lubricating means whereby lubricant is conveyed first under low pressure and then under high pressure to the final point of discharge.

The novel features of construction of the lubricating means of my present invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary perspective view of the lubricating means embodying my invention. V

Figure 2 represents a fragmentary sectional view of the arm swivel shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a fragmentary perspective view of a modified embodiment of my invention.

Figure 4 represents an enlarged View, partly in section, of the combined grease and air outlet.

Figure 5 represents a section taken generally on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 represents an elevational View, partly in section, of a modified embodiment of my invention.

Figure '7 represents a sectional view of the high-pressure pneumatic grease discharge gun, which is shown on a reduced. scale in each of Figures 1, 3, and 6.

Figure 8 represents a sectional view, on a much enlarged scale, of the swivel joint of the high pressure pneumatic grease gun, as shown in Figure '7.

Figure 9 represents a sectional view of the combined grease and air outlet of the modification shown in Figure 6.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 1, I provide a lubricant reservoir H of any suitable size, and suitably located, which carries a discharge pipe l2 extending to a point near the bottom of a tank H, and carrying a shut-ofi valve 13. An air inlet valve I4 is affixed to the top of the tank H, and operatively con- 5 nected therewith on one side, and connected through pipes IE to a source of compressed air, such as any suitable source of air compressor and air storage tank. A screw cap or screw plug or other suitable closure member I6, is provided 10 in an upper opening in the tank ll, through which the lubricant may be filled into said tank.

The low pressure grease pipe I! and air pipe l8 are extended to suitable juncture or header members or pipes I9 and 20, respectively, from which any number of branch pipes 2| and 22 are extended for grease and air respectively;- each pair (one grease and one air) of said branch pipes leading to a greasing stage or post, in suitable juxtaposition to an automobile lift 2 or an automobile pit or like facilities for the lubrication of automobiles, as. shown particularly in my co-pending application Serial No. 538,803.

In the particular embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 1, each grease pipe or grease branch pipe 2| enters and is connected to a grease and air juncture housing 23 contained within a swivel housing 24 fastened to and carried by the sealing or other suitable structure disposed above the point where lubrication is desired (such as the lift).

The air pipe or branch pipe 22 enters the side of the housing 23 through an air shut-off valve 25.

The grease and air juncture housing is shown in sectional View in Figures 4 and 5. Thus, the grease inlet 26 of the housing terminates in a valve seat 21, which is adapted to be opened or closed at will by a valve 28 operatively carried by the valve stem 29, which is screwthreadedly mounted in the housing 23, as at 30, and which passes through a suitable packing or stufiing gland 3! of any suitable construction, for preventing the leakage of grease along the valve stem 29. 5

An air duct 32 is provided along the interior of the wall of the housing 23, as shown particularly in Figure 5, said air duct terminating on one side of the housing in the air inlet 33, and having its discharge end 34 terminating within and concentrically of the grease discharge opening 35 of the housing 23. The air pipe or air branch pipe 22 is screw-threaded to the air inlet 33.

To the discharge end 34 of the air duct 32, a

tube 36 is threadedly secured as at 31, and to the outer end of the tube 36 a hose nipple 38 is secured by means of the threaded collar 39. To the outer end of the hose nipple, the flexible air hose :6 is secured by means of suitable clamping collar or ferrule 4|.

To the grease discharge opening 35, the hose nipple 22 is threadedly secured as at 43, and the grease hose 44 is secured to the outer end of the nipple 42 by means of suitable collar clamp or ferrule 45.

In the modification of my present invention, as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 2, the two concentric hose 49 and 45 are formed into a loose or open loop 46 within the swivel housing 24, so that the hose may be twisted up to about 360 without damaging the same. The dual hose is then extended through the pipe swivel arm 4?, the upright pivotal portion 48 of which is pivotally secured in the pendent hub portion of the housing 24, by means of suitable ball-bearings 5G and 5|, and a thrust collar 52 afiixed. to the pivotal portion 43 of the pipe arm. A collar 53 is also secured to the pivotal portion 48 of the pipe arm, and said collar 53 carries a stop lug 54, which is in alignment with a radially projecting rib or abutment 55, carried rigidly on the hub portion 49 of the housing 24. The lug 54 and the rib 55 prevent the arm from rotating more than 360, thereby preventing the twisting of the hose loop 46 to a harmful extent.

The dual hose is extended through the pipe arm 47 and out through the downwardly projecting end 53 thereof.

In the modification of my invention shown particularly in Figure 3, the dual hose is suspended directly from the housing 23 without the intervention of the swivel arm 41. In this modification of my invention, a helical coil spring 51 is provided at the fixed end of the hose 44, having its fixed end threaded onto the discharge end of the housing, as shown particularly at 58, in Figure 4, by means of a spiral groove cut into the generally cylindrical surface of the discharge end of the housing 23, into which the convolutions of the spring are adapted to fit. This helical coil spring 5'! serves to prevent any sharp bending of the dual hose at the fixed end thereof.

If the installation is to be made at grease pits instead of overhead as shown in Figures 1 and 3, then the housing 23 would be mounted on the wall of the greasing pit, and the length of the dual hose could then be fixed to permit any part of the automobile being reached by it.

The pneumatic high pressure grease discharge means is shown particularly in Figures 7 and 8.

The high pressure pneumatic grease discharge means or the pneumatic gun 59 consists of a handle portion 60 and a cylinder r barrel portion 6|, secured to each other through corresponding annular flanges 62 and 63, respectively, and a series of screws or bolts 64 interconnecting the two flanges at spaced intervals.

The handle member includes the handle grip portion 65, containing the air duct 66, the valve portion 61, the air duct 68, the grease passageway 69, and the swivel head 70.

The swivel head includes the chamber II, in which the inner end of the grease nipple I2 is journalled or pivotally mounted;-said inner end of the nipple l2 having a reduced diameter portion '53, between which and the wall of the chamber H a seating washer or gasket 14 of leather or other suitable material, and of generally U-shaped cross-section, is placed, for sealing the grease at the swivel. The swivel chamber H is enlarged as at T5, and a stop pin 16 afiixed to the swivelled nipple 12, is adapted to be disposed within said enlarged chamber 15, and serves as a stop against the stationary pin or other suitable abutment ll, thereby to limit the rotation of the grease nipple F2 to approximately 360 or less, thereby affording sufiicient rotation to facilitate the handling of the gun 59, without injuring the inner air tube or hose 4B, the ends of which are fixedly secured.

The annular plate 78 is secured to the swivel head ill by means of screws 19, and serves to retain the swivelled nipple 72 in place, by the engagement of the slight shoulder 80.

To the receiving end of the air duct 63, the tube 8! is threadedly secured, as shown particularly in Figure 8, and to the outer end of said tube ill, the nipple 82 is secured by means of the threaded coupling collar or sleeve 33. To the nipple 82, the end of the air hose 40 is secured by means of suitable clamping collar, sleeve or ferrule 84.

The air control valve consists of a valve seat 86 formed in the valve chamber 8'! and the valve 88, generally formed of a washer or gasket of suitable packing materials such as hard fiber, hard rubber, or the like, afiixed to the metallic valve stem 89. A second valve seat 99 is also provided, against which the conical valve portion 9| of the valve stem 89 is adapted to seat when the finger button 92 is depressed. The valve stem 89 is provided with clearance slots, which permit the flow of air past the valve stem when the valve button 92 is depressed. Thus, When the valve button 92 is depressed, the air is made to flow from the air passageway or duct 66 into the air duct 68, and hence into the air cylinder 93, behind the air piston or plunger 94.

When the valve button 92 is released, the pres sure of air in the valve chamber 87 automatically closes the valve 88 against the valve seat 8-3, and unseats the valve 9! with respect to the valve seat 90, thereby permitting the exhaust of the compressed air from the air cylinder 93 and through the air duct 68 out through the air discharge vent 95.

The grease passageway 69 is formed in the body of the handle 6 3, by a pre-formed metallic tube, such as a brass or bronze tube 95, around which the metal of the handle is cast, so that said inner tube 95 is embedded in the casting of the handle. The cylinder or barrel portion 6i of the gun is similarly cast, with the grease passageway provided by means of a preformed brass or bronze tube 9? embedded Within the metal of the barrel portion during the casting thereof. The union between the two grease tubes 96 and 91 is provided by having one of the ends, as for instance, the end 98, project into the casting of the handle portion, and cementing the joint by means of any suitable cement or packing material.

The air piston or plunger 94 within the cylinder 93 is preferably formed of a cup-shaped leather afiixed to the piston rod 99;-said piston rod 99 serving as the high pressure grease piston and operating within the high pressure grease cylinder 599. A suitable packing gasket or washer of leather or other suitable material of generally U-shaped cross section, indicated by the numeral I04, surrounds the piston or piston rod 99, and is held in position by the nut or screw cap I02. The front end of the piston!!!) uncovers the grease inlet port I03 to the grease cylinder I60, in its retracted position, shown particularly in Figure 7, and upon its forward stroke expels the grease entrapped within the cylinder I60, past the spring-pressed check valve I04 out through the flexible high pressure grease conduit I05 through any suitable coupler I 66, and thence into the grease fitting of the machine to be lubricated ;to which said coupler is temporarily connected. The needle type relief valve I61 is provided for relieving the pressure within the high pressure hose I65, if desired.

In the embodiment of my invention shown particularly in Figures 6 and 9, the dual hose designated generally by the numeral I08, and also consisting of the outer hose 44 and the inner air hose 40, is attached directly to the grease reservoir I69, which in this modification of my invention, is of a portable form carried upon a wheeled base or dolly I III mounted upon suitable castors III.

In this modification of my invention, the tank I69 is provided with an opening H2 at its upper end, which may be closed by a screw cap II3. The grease is filled into the tank I09 through the opening I I2, While the cap I I3 is temporarily removed. The bottom II4 of the tank I69 is provided with an opening II5, into which the air and grease juncture unit H6, shown in detail in Figure 9, is secured.

The juncture unit H6 is formed of a single casting containing the grease passageway III, and the, air passageway or duct H3, the upper ends of which are side by side, and the lower or discharged ends of which are concentric, as seen particularly in Figure 9.

An air inlet H9 is provided in the side of the housing or unit I I6, into which a suitable air nipple I26 is threadedly secured. The end of the air supply hose I2I is secured in a manner similar to that heretofore described. The air tube I2I extends through the wall of the base member I I0 and has its other end operatively connected to any suitable source of compressed air, such as an air compressor, or air storage tank, or both.

To the upper end of the air duct II8, the air pipe I22 is secured, and said air pipe I22 projects to the top of the tank as shown in Figure 6, with its upper end deflected towards the side of the tank, so that it will not be in line with the opening II2. This is to prevent grease entering the air pipe II2 while the tank is being filled.

The grease passageway I IT is intercepted by a cylindrical strainer I23, preferably formed of perforated sheet metal. The strainer I23 is interposed between an annular flange I24'and the screw plug I25. The grease enters from the tank in the direction of the arrow I26, into the interior of the strainer I23, and leaves the strainer through the multiplicity of perforations thereof, into the lower grease passageway I26.

Any foreign matter which may possibly find its way into the grease is entrapped within the strainer I23, and may be moved periodically by emptying the strainer completely, either by the removal of the plug I25 and the removal of the strainer or merely by the removal of the smaller plug I21.

The grease is then discharged through the lower opening I26 into the grease nipple 42, and thence into the grease hose 44 while the air is discharged through the tube 36 into theair hose 40, in substantially the same manner as illustrated in Figure 4.

.The air constantlysupplied through the hose I2I exerts a pressure on top of the body of grease I28, and forces the grease intothe grease 5 passageway I I1 of-the housing II6. This same air pressure also forces the grease through the grease hose 44 to the grease gun I29, shown in detail in Figure'l. The air from the same source then'serves to operate the air piston 94, thereby .10 to expel the grease in predetermined charges, at a much higher pressure, depending upon the ratio of the affected areas of the piston 96 and piston 99.

In this last embodiment of my invention, the 15.

entire tank is movable, merely depending upon the length of the hose I2I, one end of which is fixed through'a suitable air chuck, to a source of compressed air.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated 20 in Figures 1 and 2, I may install a plurality of high pressure grease discharge guns I29 operatively connected to the same source of grease under low pressure and to the same source of compressed air, in the manner illustrated particularly in Figure 1 of my co-pending application Serial No. 538,803, of which the instant application is a continuation in part. In Figures 1 and 2 of the instant application, I have merely illustrated a single station, though any number 30 of similar stations is adapted to be connected to the branches M and 22 leading from the headers I9 and 20. Y

As stated above, the handle member 60 and the barrel or cylinder 6I of the high pressure 35 pneumatic grease gun I29 are formed of castings, while the tubes 96 and 9'! are embedded in said castings during the formation of the casting. In practice, I employ a zinc alloy for the material of which the handle member 56 and 40,

barrel member 6| are cast. This zinc alloy, in one embodiment thereof, consists of 93.17% of zinc, 4.1% of aluminum, 2.7% copper, and 3/100 of a percent of magnesium. This metal,

while having a suitably low melting point, is 45.

sufiiciently hard and strong to resist the wear of the piston and to withstand physical shock.

I am aware that my invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, 50.

and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the inven- 55.

tion.

Having thus described my invention, what I hereby claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A lubricating system for greasing automo- 60:

biles, comprising a source of compressed air, a grease reservoir having a grease outlet, and pneumatic means connected to said source of compressed air for discharging the grease through said grease outlet at a relatively low pressure, a grease and air juncture member having a grease inlet and an air inlet exteriorly of each other, connected, respectively, to said grease outlet of said grease reservoir, and to said source of compressed air, and having a grease outlet and air outlet disposed within each other; a flexible grease hose connected to saidgrease outlet and a flexible air hose connected to said air outlet, said two flexible hose being disposed within each other, and a pneumatically operated 75 high pressure grease discharge device connected to the free ends of said grease and air hose, including an air cylinder and an air piston and a manually operable air control valve for controlling the air from said air hose to said air cylinder and piston, thereby to control the discharge of grease.

2. A pneumatically Operated grease gun, including a cast housing formed of a zinc alloy, said housing having a grease cylinder and an air cylinder formed integerally therein, and having an air duct and a grease duct formed therein, said air duct having one end thereof opening into said air cylinder, and said grease duct having one end thereof opening into said grease cylinder, and the other ends of said grease and air ducts terminating within each other, and in insulated relation to, each other, a grease hose rotatably connected to said grease duct for supplying grease thereinto from a remote source of grease under relatively low pressure, and an air hose within said grease hose connected to said air duct for supplying air under relatively low pressure into said air duct and into said air cylinder, from a remote source of compressed air, a manually operable air control valve mounted within said housing, for controlling the passage of air through said air duct into said air cylinder, and for exhausting the air from said air cylinder, a grease piston disposed within said grease cylinder, and an air piston disposed within said air cylinder and operatively connected with each other.

3. A pneumatically operated grease gun, in-

cluding a cast housing formed of a zinc alloy,

said housing having a grease cylinder and an air cylinder formed integrally therein, and having an air duct and a grease duct formed therein, said air duct having one end thereof opening into said air cylinder, and said grease duct having one end thereof opening into said grease cylinder, and the other ends of said grease and air ducts terminating within each other, and in insulated relation to, each other, a grease hose rotatably connected to said grease duct for supplying grease thereinto from a remote source of grease under relatively low pressure, and an air hose within said grease hose connected to said air duct for supplying air under relatively low pressure into said air duct and into said air cylinder, from a remote source of compressed air, a manually operable air control valve mounted within said housing, for controlling the passage of air through said air duct into said air cylinder, and for exhausting the air from said air cylinder, a grease piston disposed within said grease cylinder, and an air piston disposed within said air cylinder and operatively connected with each other; said air control valve and said grease piston being of materials having a substantially different degree of hardness and tensile strength than the material of which the said housing is formed.

4. A lubricating system for greasing automobiles, comprising a source of compressed air, a grease reservoir having a grease outlet, and pneumatic means connected to said source of compressed air for discharging the grease through said grease outlet at substantially the same pressure as the pressure of the compressed air, a grease and air juncture member having a grease inlet and an air inlet exteriorly of each other, connected, respectively, to said grease outlet of said grease reservoir, and to said source of compressed air, and having a grease outlet and air outlet disposed within each other; a flexible grease hose connected to said grease outlet and a flexible air hose connected to said air outlet, said two flexible hose being disposed within each other, for conducting grease and air, respectively, at substantially the same pressure per unit of area, and a pneumatically operated high pressure grease discharge device connected to the free ends of said grease and air hose, including an air cylinder and an air piston, and a manually operable air control valve for controlling the air from said air hose to said air cylinder and piston, thereby to control the discharge of grease.

5. In a lubricating device, in combination, an overhead swivel support, a swivel arm pivotally carried thereby, a lubricant conduit carried by said swivel arm and continuing therefrom in a flexible pendent grease hose, and having a flexible portion depending therefrom at a point spaced from the pivotal center of said arm, a flexible air conduit disposed within said grease conduit and extending therethrough, a pneumatic lubricant discharging means pendently supported from the free end. of said flexible lubricant conduit, and having operative connection with the same and with said air conduit contained therein, adapted to expel lubricant at a pressure higher than the pressure at which the lubricant is delivered thereto.

6. A high pressure grease gun including a cylinder housing having a grease cylinder and an integral power cylinder in operative alignment therewith, pistons within said cylinders, a handle member rigidly connected with said cylinder housing, a metallic hose connector pivotally connected with said handle member, a grease duct Within said handle member in communication with said hose connector, a grease hose fixedly secured to the outer end of said hose connector, another hose connector connected with said handle member in generally stationary relation thereto, an air duct within said handle in communication with said last mentioned hose connector, and an air hose fixedly secured to the free end of said last named hose connector and disposed Within said grease hose.

'7. A portable grease dispensing unit comprising a Wheeled portable lubricant reservoir adapted normally to be completely closed and having a lubricant-discharge opening in its bottom, a fitting connected to said discharge opening, said fitting including a lubricant-discharge duct extending therethrough, and having an airreceiving opening adapted to receive an air hose and adapt-ed to be connected to a source of compressed air, an air duct communicating with said air-receiving opening and communicating with the interior of said reservoir, another air duct communicating with said air-receiving opening and extending into the discharge end of said lubricant-discharge duct, a flexible lubricant conduit connected to the discharge end of said lubricant-discharge duct of said fitting, an air conduit within said lubricant conduit and connected with said last named air duct, a pneumatic lubricant ejector connected to the free ends of said lubricant conduit and air conduit, whereby the lubricant may be propelled, first at a low pressure and then at a high pressure, by means of the same source of compressed air.

8. A portable grease dispensing unit comprising a wheeled portable lubricant reservoir adapted normally to be completely closed and having a lubricant discharge opening, a fitting connected to said discharge opening, said fitting including a lubricant-discharge duct extending therethrough, a strainer in said lubricant-discharge duct, said fitting also including an airreceiving opening adapted to receive an air hose and adapted to be connected to a source of compressed air, an air duct communicating with said air-receiving opening and communicating with the interior of said reservoir, another air duct communicating with said air-receiving opening and extending into the discharge end of said lubricant-discharge duct, a flexible lubricant conduit connected to the discharge end of said lubricant-discharge duct of said fitting, an air conduit within said lubricant conduit and connected with said last named air duct, a pneumatic lubricant ejector connected to the free ends of said lubricant conduit and air conduit, whereby the lubricant may be propelled, first at a low pressure and then at a high pressure, by means of the same source of compressed air.

9. In a lubricant dispensing apparatus, a combined lubricant discharge and air conducting fitting adapted for use in combination with a lubricant reservoir, said fitting comprising a body having a lubricant conduit extending therethrough, an air conduit extending therethrough and through the terminals of said lubricant conduit, an air inlet opening extending through the side of said fitting and into said air conduit, a strainer operatively disposed within said lubricant conduit, and. means for emptying said strainer.

10. A pneumatically operated grease gun, including a housing having a grease cylinder and an air cylinder therein, and having an air duct and a grease duct formed therein, said air duct having one end thereof opening into said air cylinder, and said grease duct having one end thereof opening into said grease cylinder, and the other ends of said grease and air ducts terminating within each other, and in insulated relation to each other, a grease hose rotatably connected to said grease duct for supplying grease thereinto from a remote source of grease under relatively low pressure, and an air hose within said grease hose connected to said air duct for supplying air under relatively low pressure into said air duct and into said air cylinder from a remote source of compressed air, a manually operable air control valve mounted. within said housing, for controlling the passage of air through said air duct into said air cylinder, and for exhausting the air from said air cylinder, a grease piston disposed within said grease cylinder, and an air piston disposed within said air cylinder and operatively connected with each other.

11. A pneumatically operated grease gun, including a housing having a grease cylinder and an air cylinder therein, and having an air duct and a grease duct formed. therein, said air duct having one end thereof opening into said air cylinder, and said grease duct having one end thereof opening into said grease cylinder, and the other ends of said grease and air ducts terminating within each other, and in insulated relation to each other, a grease hose rotatably connected to said grease duct for supplying grease thereinto from a remote source of grease under relatively low pressure, and an air hose within said grease hose connected to said air duct .for supplying air under relatively low pressure into said air duct and into said air cylinder,

from a remote source of compressed air, a manually operable air control valve mounted within said housing, for controlling the passage of air through said air duct into said air cylinder, and for exhausting the air from said air cylinder, a grease piston disposed Within said grease cylinder, and an air piston disposed Within said air cylinder and operatively connected with each other; said air control valve and said grease piston being of materials having a substantially different degree of hardness and tensile strength than the material of which the said housing is formed.

RUSSELL J. GRAY. 

